14 October 2015

Many in India's literary community are disgusted. Dozens of writers say
every day brings more evidence of intolerance and bigotry going
mainstream — a man lynched allegedly for eating beef, an atheist critic
of Hindu idol worship gunned down — all met by a deafening silence from
the government.

As of Wednesday, 41 novelists, essayists, playwrights and poets had returned the awards they received from India's prestigious literary academy to protest what they call a growing climate of intolerance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Dozens of writers have returned India's highest literary honor to
protest what they call a growing climate of intolerance in the country
since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government took office.

As of Wednesday, 41 novelists, essayists, playwrights and poets had returned the awards they received from India's prestigious literary academy, saying they cannot remain silent about numerous incidents of communal violence or attacks on intellectuals across the country over the past year.